83 FR 40355 - Termination of Operating License for the Buffalo Materials Research Center Reactor
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 157 (August 14, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 157 (August 14, 2018)
| Page Range | 40355-40356 | |
| FR Document | 2018-17456 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 40355-40356] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-17456] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 50-57; NRC-2018-0166] Termination of Operating License for the Buffalo Materials Research Center Reactor AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: License termination; issuance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is providing notice of the termination of Facility Operating License No. R-77 for the Buffalo Materials Research Center (BMRC). The NRC has terminated the license of the decommissioned BMRC at the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB or the licensee) facility in Buffalo, New York, and has released the site for unrestricted use. DATES: Notice of termination of Facility Operating License No. R-77 given on August 14, 2018. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2018-0166 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this document using any of the following methods:Federal Rulemaking website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0166. Address questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer Borges; telephone: 301-287- 9127; email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced in this document (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Conway, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington D.C. 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1335; email: Kimberly.Conway@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BMRC reactor in Buffalo, New York, was located on the south campus of UB. The BMRC reactor began operation in 1961 and was shut down on June 23, 1994. On June 6, 1997, the license was amended to possession only. By letter dated February 17, 2012 (ADAMS Package No. ML120540187), as supplemented by letters dated June 20, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML121870132), September 21, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML122780454), and October 15, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12297A237), the licensee submitted a request to the NRC to approve a license amendment and a revised decommissioning plan (DP) for the BMRC reactor. The NRC approved the UB revised DP by Amendment No. 27, dated November 5, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12290A694). In the Safety Evaluation Report related to the DP approval (ADAMS Accession No. ML12286A352), the NRC staff determined that the revised Final Status Survey (FSS) Plan for the BMRC (ADAMS Accession No. ML12278A373) was consistent with the guidance and methodology in NUREG- 1575, ``Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM),'' and NUREG-1757, ``Consolidated [[Page 40356]] Decommissioning Guidance.'' The licensee's decommissioning activities included decontamination, dismantlement, and demolition of various systems, structures, and components followed by MARSSIM-based FSS. By letter dated January 12, 2017, UB submitted the FSS Report for the BMRC and requested the termination of Facility Operating License No. R-77 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17039A897). The NRC staff reviewed the FSS Report, which states that the criteria for termination set forth in UB's license, and as established in its DP and FSS Plan, have been satisfied. Supplemental information was provided in an email from the licensee dated February 13, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18075A415), which addressed additional questions and items requiring clarification that were provided to the licensee. Throughout the decommissioning process, inspectors from the NRC's Region I office conducted routine safety inspections at the BMRC, as documented in the following NRC Inspection Reports (IRs): IR 050-00057/ 2015-001 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16007A027), IR 050-00057/2014-001 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15027A411), IR 050-00057/2013-003 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14219A022), IR 050-00057/2013-002 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13204A096), and IR 050-00057/2013-001 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13106A379). The inspections consisted of observations by the inspectors, interviews with BMRC and contractor personnel, confirmatory measurements, collection of soil samples, and a review of work plans and work instructions. The NRC inspections also verified that radioactive waste associated with the decommissioning project had been shipped offsite and that the decommissioning and final status survey activities were being conducted safely and in accordance with regulatory requirements, licensee commitments, and the NRC-approved DP. No health or safety concerns were identified during the NRC inspections. During the periods of January 26-29, February 3-6, and August 17- 21, 2015, the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) performed confirmatory surveys in support of the BMRC excavation, which included surveys of surrounding soils, backfill material, and soil laydown areas. The survey activities included visual inspections, gamma radiation surface scans, gamma and beta radiation measurements, and soil sampling activities of six FSS units, which were combined into two confirmatory survey units. At the time of confirmatory survey activities, structures associated with the BMRC had been demolished and removed from the site. The site consisted of exposed bedrock where the BMRC facility was located, and the impacted soils surrounding the excavation. The ORAU provided the results of the confirmatory surveys in a report dated January 6, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16006A200). The ORAU site data support the conclusion that the residual activity levels satisfy the DCGLs. Based on observations during NRC inspections, decommissioning activities have been carried out by UB in accordance with the approved BMRC DP. Additionally, the NRC staff evaluated the licensee's FSS Report and the results of the independent confirmatory survey conducted by ORAU. Based on the NRC staff's evaluation of the FSS Report sampling and scanning data, NRC staff inspections, ORAU confirmatory analysis, and comparison to the BMRC reactor DP and FSS Plan criteria, the NRC staff concludes that the BMRC reactor decommissioning has been performed and completed in accordance with the approved DP, and that the facility and site are suitable for unrestricted release in accordance with the radiological criteria for license termination in 10 CFR part 20, subpart E. Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.82(b)(6), Facility Operating License No. R-77 is terminated. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day of August, 2018. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Andrea L. Kock, Acting Director, Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. 2018-17456 Filed 8-13-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices 40355
classification level. The changes also Renewed Facility Operating License Borges; telephone: 301–287–9127;
include formatting, clarification, and Nos. NPF–4 and NPF–7: Amendments email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For
editorial modifications. revised the Renewed Facility Operating technical questions, contact the
Date of issuance: July 19, 2018. Licenses and Technical Specifications. individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
Effective date: As of the date of Date of initial notice in Federal INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
issuance and shall be implemented Register: March 6, 2018 (83 FR 9553). document.
within 9 months from the date of The supplemental letters dated July 19, • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
issuance. 2017, and January 31, 2018, provided Access and Management System
Amendment Nos.: 214 (Unit 1) and additional information that clarified the (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
200 (Unit 2). A publicly-available application, did not expand the scope of available documents online in the
version is in ADAMS under Accession the application as originally noticed, ADAMS Public Documents collection at
No. ML18159A212; documents related and did not change the NRC staff’s https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
to these amendments are listed in the original proposed no significant hazards adams.html. To begin the search, select
Safety Evaluation enclosed with the consideration determination as ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For
amendments. published in the Federal Register. problems with ADAMS, please contact
Renewed Facility Operating License The Commission’s related evaluation the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR)
Nos. NPF–76 and NPF–80: The of the amendment is contained in a reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301–
amendments revised the Site Emergency Safety Evaluation dated July 27, 2018. 415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@
Plan. No significant hazards consideration nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number
Date of initial notice in Federal comments received: No. for each document referenced in this
Register: September 12, 2017 (82 FR Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day document (if that document is available
42855). The supplemental letter dated of August, 2018. in ADAMS) is provided the first time
February 12, 2018, provided additional For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. that a document is referenced.
information that clarified the Kathryn M. Brock, • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
application, did not expand the scope of Deputy Director, Division of Operating
purchase copies of public documents at
the application as originally noticed, Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
and did not change the NRC staff’s Regulation. White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
original proposed no significant hazards [FR Doc. 2018–17132 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am] Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
consideration determination as BILLING CODE 7590–01–P FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim
published in the Federal Register. Conway, Office of Nuclear Material
The Commission’s related evaluation Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear
of the amendments is contained in a NUCLEAR REGULATORY Regulatory Commission, Washington
Safety Evaluation dated July 19, 2018. COMMISSION D.C. 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–
No significant hazards consideration 1335; email: Kimberly.Conway@nrc.gov.
[Docket No. 50–57; NRC–2018–0166]
comments received: No. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Virginia Electric and Power Company, Termination of Operating License for The BMRC reactor in Buffalo, New
Docket Nos. 50–338 and 50–339, North the Buffalo Materials Research Center York, was located on the south campus
Anna Power Station, Units Nos. 1 and Reactor of UB. The BMRC reactor began
2, Louisa County, Virginia operation in 1961 and was shut down
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory on June 23, 1994. On June 6, 1997, the
Date of amendment request: May 2, Commission. license was amended to possession
2017, as supplemented by letters dated ACTION: License termination; issuance. only.
July 19, 2017, and January 31, 2018. By letter dated February 17, 2012
Brief description of amendments: The SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory (ADAMS Package No. ML120540187), as
amendments revised North Anna Power Commission (NRC) is providing notice supplemented by letters dated June 20,
Station (NAPS) Technical Specification of the termination of Facility Operating 2012 (ADAMS Accession No.
(TS) 3.7.18, ‘‘Spent Fuel Pool Storage,’’ License No. R–77 for the Buffalo ML121870132), September 21, 2012
and TS 4.3.1, ‘‘Criticality,’’ to allow the Materials Research Center (BMRC). The (ADAMS Accession No. ML122780454),
storage of fuel assemblies with a NRC has terminated the license of the and October 15, 2012 (ADAMS
maximum enrichment of up to 5.0 decommissioned BMRC at the State Accession No. ML12297A237), the
weight percent uranium 235 in the University of New York at Buffalo (UB licensee submitted a request to the NRC
NAPS spent fuel pool storage racks and or the licensee) facility in Buffalo, New to approve a license amendment and a
the New Fuel Storage Area. The York, and has released the site for revised decommissioning plan (DP) for
amendments further revised the unrestricted use. the BMRC reactor. The NRC approved
allowable fuel assembly parameters and DATES: Notice of termination of Facility the UB revised DP by Amendment No.
fuel storage patterns in the spent fuel Operating License No. R–77 given on 27, dated November 5, 2012 (ADAMS
pool. August 14, 2018. Accession No. ML12290A694).
Date of issuance: July 27, 2018. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID In the Safety Evaluation Report
Effective date: As of the date of NRC–2018–0166 when contacting the related to the DP approval (ADAMS
issuance and shall be implemented NRC about the availability of Accession No. ML12286A352), the NRC
within 180 days of issuance. information regarding this document. staff determined that the revised Final
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Amendment Nos.: 279 (Unit 1) and You may obtain publicly-available Status Survey (FSS) Plan for the BMRC
262 (Unit 2). A publicly-available information related to this document (ADAMS Accession No. ML12278A373)
version is in ADAMS under Accession using any of the following methods: was consistent with the guidance and
No. ML18180A197; documents related • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to methodology in NUREG–1575, ‘‘Multi-
to these amendments are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov and search Agency Radiation Survey and Site
Safety Evaluation enclosed with the for Docket ID NRC–2018–0166. Address Investigation Manual (MARSSIM),’’ and
amendments. questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer NUREG–1757, ‘‘Consolidated
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![40356 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices
Decommissioning Guidance.’’ The which were combined into two submitted a request for renewal of an
licensee’s decommissioning activities confirmatory survey units. At the time existing collection of information to the
included decontamination, of confirmatory survey activities, Office of Management and Budget
dismantlement, and demolition of structures associated with the BMRC (OMB) for review. The information
various systems, structures, and had been demolished and removed from collection is entitled, ‘‘General Domestic
components followed by MARSSIM- the site. The site consisted of exposed Licenses for Byproduct Material.’’
based FSS. bedrock where the BMRC facility was DATES: Submit comments by September
By letter dated January 12, 2017, UB located, and the impacted soils 13, 2018.
submitted the FSS Report for the BMRC surrounding the excavation. The ORAU
and requested the termination of provided the results of the confirmatory ADDRESSES: Submit comments directly
Facility Operating License No. R–77 surveys in a report dated January 6, to the OMB reviewer at: OMB Office of
(ADAMS Accession No. ML17039A897). 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. Information and Regulatory Affairs
The NRC staff reviewed the FSS Report, ML16006A200). The ORAU site data (3150–0016), Attn: Desk Officer for the
which states that the criteria for support the conclusion that the residual Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 725
termination set forth in UB’s license, activity levels satisfy the DCGLs. 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
and as established in its DP and FSS Based on observations during NRC 20503; email: oira_submission@
Plan, have been satisfied. Supplemental inspections, decommissioning activities omb.eop.gov.
information was provided in an email have been carried out by UB in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
from the licensee dated February 13, accordance with the approved BMRC David Cullison, NRC Clearance Officer,
2018 (ADAMS Accession No. DP. Additionally, the NRC staff U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
ML18075A415), which addressed evaluated the licensee’s FSS Report and Washington, D.C. 20555–0001;
additional questions and items requiring the results of the independent telephone: 301–415–2084; email:
clarification that were provided to the confirmatory survey conducted by Infocollects.Resource@nrc.gov.
licensee. ORAU. Based on the NRC staff’s
Throughout the decommissioning evaluation of the FSS Report sampling SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
process, inspectors from the NRC’s and scanning data, NRC staff I. Obtaining Information and
Region I office conducted routine safety inspections, ORAU confirmatory Submitting Comments
inspections at the BMRC, as analysis, and comparison to the BMRC
documented in the following NRC reactor DP and FSS Plan criteria, the A. Obtaining Information
Inspection Reports (IRs): IR 050–00057/ NRC staff concludes that the BMRC Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2017–
2015–001 (ADAMS Accession No. reactor decommissioning has been 0209 when contacting the NRC about
ML16007A027), IR 050–00057/2014– performed and completed in accordance the availability of information for this
001 (ADAMS Accession No. with the approved DP, and that the action. You may obtain publicly-
ML15027A411), IR 050–00057/2013– facility and site are suitable for available information related to this
003 (ADAMS Accession No. unrestricted release in accordance with action by any of the following methods:
ML14219A022), IR 050–00057/2013– the radiological criteria for license • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to
002 (ADAMS Accession No. termination in 10 CFR part 20, subpart http://www.regulations.gov and search
ML13204A096), and IR 050–00057/ E. for Docket ID NRC–2017–0209.
2013–001 (ADAMS Accession No. Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR
ML13106A379). The inspections • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
50.82(b)(6), Facility Operating License Access and Management System
consisted of observations by the No. R–77 is terminated.
inspectors, interviews with BMRC and (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day available documents online in the
contractor personnel, confirmatory of August, 2018.
measurements, collection of soil ADAMS Public Documents collection at
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
samples, and a review of work plans
Andrea L. Kock, adams.html. To begin the search, select
and work instructions. The NRC
inspections also verified that radioactive Acting Director, Division of ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For
Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and problems with ADAMS, please contact
waste associated with the Waste Programs, Office of Nuclear Material
decommissioning project had been the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR)
Safety and Safeguards. reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301–
shipped offsite and that the
[FR Doc. 2018–17456 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am] 415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@
decommissioning and final status
survey activities were being conducted BILLING CODE 7590–01–P nrc.gov. The supporting statement is
safely and in accordance with regulatory available in ADAMS under Accession
requirements, licensee commitments, No. ML18164A186.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
and the NRC-approved DP. No health or COMMISSION
safety concerns were identified during purchase copies of public documents at
the NRC inspections. [NRC–2017–0209] the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
During the periods of January 26–29, White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
February 3–6, and August 17–21, 2015, Information Collection: General Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
the Oak Ridge Associated Universities Domestic Licenses for Byproduct • NRC’s Clearance Officer: A copy of
(ORAU) performed confirmatory Material the collection of information and related
surveys in support of the BMRC AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory instructions may be obtained without
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
excavation, which included surveys of Commission. charge by contacting the NRC’s
surrounding soils, backfill material, and ACTION: Notice of submission to the
Clearance Officer, David Cullison,
soil laydown areas. The survey activities Office of Management and Budget; Office of the Chief Information Officer,
included visual inspections, gamma request for comment. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
radiation surface scans, gamma and beta Washington, D.C. 20555–0001;
radiation measurements, and soil SUMMARY:The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory telephone: 301–415–2084; email:
sampling activities of six FSS units, Commission (NRC) has recently Infocollects.Resource@nrc.gov.
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Document Created: 2018-08-14 02:18:31
Document Modified: 2018-08-14 02:18:31
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | License termination; issuance. | |
| Dates | Notice of termination of Facility Operating License No. R-77 given on August 14, 2018. | |
| Contact | Kim Conway, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington D.C. 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1335; email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 40355 |
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